Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

Reset

Towns most like Whiteford, MD 21160

Whiteford: median income $106,181, home value $391,300, $336/sq ft, 44-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Greenfield, NH 03047 87%321$103,603$350,300$298 cheaper homes ($41K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Mountain Ranch, CA 95246 85%2,351$98,269$417,100$200 pricier homes ($26K more) · newer homes
Alton, NH 03809 83%369$106,397$387,500$270 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Cross Junction, VA 22625 83%109$95,515$361,900$209 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Copperopolis, CA 95228 83%2,365$107,899$484,500$286 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Pioneer, CA 95666 83%2,351$84,311$386,500$247 larger
Grapeview, WA 98546 83%2,357$97,159$494,500$336 pricier homes ($103K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Mc Clellanville, SC 29458 82%488$86,431$370,900$337 more apartments and townhomes
Temple, NH 03084 81%316$94,107$401,000$293 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Bentonville, VA 22610 81%122$81,500$337,700$246 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Rixeyville, VA 22737 81%120$99,177$401,000$314 younger residents · more homeowners
Greenwood, CA 95635 81%2,359$101,250$485,200$250 pricier homes ($94K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Sanbornville, NH 03872 80%381$109,583$334,400$278 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Acton, ME 04001 80%384$78,750$334,300$388 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($57K less) · more homeowners
Boulevard, CA 91905 80%2,264$77,886$394,400$326 lower income ($28K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Washington, NH 03280 79%325$90,096$355,200$289 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Thompson, CT 06277 79%282$110,000$295,100$271 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Bloomsbury, NJ 08804 79%91$107,333$462,000$271 pricier homes ($71K more) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Boston, VA 22713 79%127$90,795$377,200$249 smaller · younger residents
Lanexa, VA 23089 79%161$108,802$400,600$252 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Hidden Valley Lake, CA 95467 79%2,446$84,152$393,100$212 larger
Merlin, OR 97532 79%2,429$81,167$445,400$281 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($54K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Allyn, WA 98524 79%2,354$99,483$526,800$306 pricier homes ($136K more) · larger · more homeowners
West Brookfield, MA 01585 78%279$87,857$344,000$273 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Fawn Grove, PA 17321 78%7$114,205$291,200$230 cheaper homes ($100K less) · 8 min shorter commute

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.